Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers is free to back any political party of his choice in South Africa’s upcoming elections, SA Rugby (Saru) said on Wednesday.
Media reports, quoting a statement from the ANC’s Western Cape election team, claimed De Villiers openly backed the ANC.
I-Net Bridge reported that De Villiers told a meeting of business leaders: “I am here to personally pledge my support for the ANC.
“We have come through a lot of hardship during our time and now is not the time to give up.”
De Villiers told the group that the challenges faced by the party required people to “fight and not give up”.
“There will always be a fight in your hands,” he said, “and every one of us must be prepared to stand up for what we believe”.
Saru said in a statement it is an individual’s constitutional right to vote according to the dictates of their conscience and express those opinions if they so wish.
“SA Rugby is a non-political sporting body and has no place or desire to come between an individual and their conscience,” it said.
“We are an organisation that embraces all South Africans irrespective of gender, race, religion or political affiliation.”
Sapa – Rugbyweek.com